Kids’ Computer Games: Going From Mayhem To Mellow
By Roy Daniel D’Silva
The computer has come a long way from being the best alternative to a typewriter (remember those good old times when the computer was merely an electronic, paperless word processor?). It is now an all-in-one work, entertainment and information portal.
Today, the entertainment component has increased and computer games account for a significant part of overall PC usage. A few years ago, there were only a few basic computer games available – now the market crawls with them.
This is often a matter of concern to parents, who are understandably confused about what is the best for their children. After having to decide on what their kids should watch, eat, wear and whom to interact with, having to evaluate a catalogue of computer games can surely be frustrating.
Violent Computer Games and Your Child
Some parents assume that computer games are harmless. The logic is that as long as their children are not sustaining or inflicting physical harm, all is well.
The sad fact is that many career couples today see computers and computer games as convenient babysitting devices. Anything that can keep Junior quiet and engrossed for long period of time just HAS to be good – and game manufacturers know what they’re doing, right?
Such parents may not have all the facts. There certainly is a connection between video game violence and real time violence. Children have very impressionable minds.
A mature adult understands that while it is okay to shoot a person’s brains out in a game, doing the same in real life can have serious consequences. Young children, however, sometimes do not understand the difference between real life and the virtual world. Video game violence is very much a reality, and people addicted to violent games sometimes do go on to commit violent acts in real life.
The infamous Columbine High School Massacre probably serves well to underline this point. This massacre, said to be the worst school shooting in world history, was masterminded by two college going children. At least one of the school shooters was an avid player of the ultra-controversial game DOOM.
DOOM is definitely NOT a suitable game for anyone under the age of eighteen, period. The most talked-about game in terms of excessive violence in computer games, many denounce it as high on gore, violence and even satanic imagery. To the present day, it represents one of the most realistic portrayals of mass death and destruction.
Of course, there are also countless other games highlighting glorified violence – these are always contraindicated for all pre-teens and even high-strung teens. While this is just an illustrative point, there surely are computer games suitable for children of certain age groups. Here are some simple tips for parents on the lookout for the right computer games for their little ones:
Child-Certified Franchise Games:
If your child is interested in computer games and you are wondering which kind he or she should be exposed to, you can generally trust franchise game. Almost all major children’s products have an entertainment and computer gaming franchise, and most mainstream superheroes have quaint little games of their own. Even Barbie has her own computer game franchise.
These games not only entertain the child – they often enhance their logic and decision-making abilities, too. Today, entertainment and media companies have ventured into almost every market niche. For example, Disney has its own set of computer games, and there are movie and video game adaptations for many famous children’s book titles available.
There are plenty of wholesome and educational computer games available for kids
Intelligence-Building Games:
Among the many other wholesome games available in the common market, some hone a child’s vocabulary and linguistic skills. Others that let the child solve crosswords, complete jigsaws and test their general knowledge do more than just entertain – they qualify as edutainment games.
Tetris, for instance, is a game that teaches a child basic geometry and tests his logic, too. Other than that, there are various classic children games like Blocks that are freely available on the Internet.
Arcade Games:
Arcade games are usually safe bets, since there are strict controls on unwholesome components. Still, some parents may still prefer to keep their kids away from some of these – and there are certainly dubious exceptions among arcade games. It is best to scan all available games in an arcade and take a personal call on what is on, and what is not.
Interactive Games:
There are also various games that children and their parents can play together. They are not only entertaining, but also translate into some significant and exciting quality time together. There are many excellent sites which allows you to create online pets, redecorate their room, shop for food, furniture and clothes, etc. A great online resource is www.cartoonnetwork.com
This article may be reprinted with attribution to the author and a link back to http://www.lovingyourchild.com
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Computer Games Can Help Kids Learn
